Join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2183117951984132/?source_id=181918175166472
May 10th
Our Bible reading today is in Psalm 50,53,60,75.
Asaph was one of David’s chief musicians and songwriters as well as a singer. According to the chronicler, Asaph was one of three Levites that David put in charge of the singing in the house of God. Yes, congregational singing goes back a long way.
Inspired by the Spirit, Asaph wrote a song about God “coming” to the earth on a day in the future...for judgment!
Paul said to the Roman believers: “God has endured with patience the vessels of wrath...one day He’s coming with destruction.”
Asaph says God is coming...like at the flood?...like at the red sea?...like at Mt Sinai?...no...it will be far more awesome and far more terrible. He is coming...to “judge” the world...” like a devouring fire and a mighty hurricane going before Him.”
The Apostle Paul had the same belief...Ephesians 5:6 “The wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience...upon the sons of the devil.”
BUT....before that happens God is going to judge “His own” at the “judgment seat of Christ”. Not regarding their eternal destiny...but where believers’ works and motives will be judged for the sake of rewards.
Many centuries later the Apostle Peter explained it this way: 1 Peter 4:17 “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God...”
Asaph starts with a trilogy of God’s Names El...”God The Mighty One”, Elohim...”God sufficient in Himself..” Yaweh...”the Lord saves! God very God not number one among many gods...But God alone!
“This One, whose throne is in the heavens will come (to Jerusalem) to judge the world...” “and the judgment will begin with His own...” “God calls to the “heaven above”and to the “earth beneath” all, righteous and unrighteous...will be there to witness the judgment upon the children of God.
And before judgment begins God says to His humbled redeemed...“I am God “your” God“...my faithful ones...who made a covenant with me by a sacrifice...”
In other words, God was “Gospeling” His people. The good news of their position in the Lord...regardless of God’s judgment.
Believing Israelites reading this psalm would remember the covenant of the “blood path” that God made with Abraham and all of his descendants of faith...an everlasting covenant of faith...from God to them.
Today we remember a covenant made by a sacrifice on a cross...that paid our sin debt and purchased us a home in heaven. To hear Almighty God say to our hearts that He is our God is an awesome thing. But one day, all that scoffed at our testimony of faith...will hear God Almighty, Lord Jesus, say out loud, that we belong to Him...Now “that” will be over the top of Awesome!
So what does the prophesy in song say to the Israelites then and the people of faith now?
God to Israel: Your burnt offerings are not the problem. I commanded that those sacrifices be made. They were to remind you that I'm the one who takes away sin. I'm who you worship...im who you trust for forgiveness and eternal life. Now you are counting on the ritual to save you. You go through the motions, but instead of your worship coming from your heart appreciation of Me, now you pat yourself on the back because you performed the ritual just right. You're dotting all the I's and crossing all the T's, but your heart is far from me. It’s always been about Me and your heart.
God to us today: ditto...trust in me...love me...desire me...from your heart. Because you are mine.
Wow...God will use that time with His own...reproving and rewarding...to make the Gospel clear to those who are about to be judged to the lake of fire for eternity.
Rejoice friends...and keep witnessing to family and friends of the good news of Jesus...one day they will thank you.
Have a great day
